Main Document

written by
Robert Morse
published by
the Wright Center for Science Education Tufts University

This article contains materials regarding the scientific work of Benjamin Franklin, and lab exercises related to experiments he performed. Writings and historical observations are integrated with lab descriptions to give students a better insight into his work. Videos of some of the experiments are also provided. This introduction describes the history of Franklin's work and describes the equipment that will be used in the rest of the lab.

Supplemental Documents (3)

This movie shows a number of electrostatics experiments performed with cellophane tape and other common household objects. It illustrates some of the activities in the "Ben Franklin as my Lab Partner" curriculum materials.

This movie demonstrates the charging of objects, and people, what Franklin described as "Drawing the Fire". It illustrates some of the activities in the "Ben Franklin as my Lab Partner" curriculum materials.

This movie shows the steps in building a Leyden Jar out of a film can and aluminum foil. Several of these will be used in electrostatics experiments that are part of the "Ben Franklin as my Lab Partner" activities.